More people dying as a result of global pollution - report

The State of the Environment Report has revealed that 6.5 million people die annually due to pollution, while 6,000 children suffer brain defects due to toxics in paints.

This was contained in a report launched, as part of activities held at the three-day United Nations Environment Assembly, held in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Assembly that opened on Monday, among others, therefore, discussed a framework for adoption towards a pollution free environment, following the alarming increasing global deaths due to pollution with its effects on economies and biodiversity.

The report also states that due to poor sanitation practices and lack of safe drinking water 68 per cent of children, mostly in developing countries, suffer diarrhoeal diseases, with astonishing figures on how these affect the economic development.

The report, has therefore, identified five key points to address pollution. These include political leadership and partnership; and the right policies and advocacy for action.

At a media briefing, Erik Solheim, the Executive Director of UNEP, said sustainable development was the only form of development that made sense and investing in green technologies was a strategy for long-term profitability and prosperity for all.

Ms Ligia Noronha, the Head of Economic and Industry of UNEP, said Science and Research confirmed the fact that pollution was continuing at an alarming rate hence the need to bring Science, Industry and policy makers together to address the issue.

She noted: "Our seas already contain 500 dead zones with little oxygen to support marine life, while over 80 per cent waste water is released into the environment without treatment".

Ms Noronha blamed the current trend of pollution to production and consumption patterns, which were unsustainable.

She recommended recovery, re-use, and re-manufacturing as the way out in order to maintain the continuous use of resources for production.